Parachute



Patented `[une 6, 1944 i. 'Peter J. Swoiord. Fort Worth, Tex., assignorof one-sixteenth to Tina Brooker Fite and onesixteenth to J. B. Ho

Tex.

pson, both of Fort Worth,

Application January 12, 1942, Serial No. 426,531

2 Claims.

This invention relates to parachutes, and has for one of its objects theproduction of a simple and eicient parachute which is provided withvertically extending cross fins for facilitating maneuverability andpreventing the parachute from oscillating.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple andenlcient parachute which is so constructed as to prevent theentanglement of the shroud cords.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appearthroughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the parachute;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the cross ns, taken online 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view of the cross fins.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I designates the skirtportion of the chute canopy 9 which is formed of the conventional fabricused in constructing parachutes. The skirt portion I0 depends from theouter edge of the flat top portion II, which flat top portion II isprovided with a small central vent opening I2. As shown in Figure 2, thecanopy 9 is preferably circular.

Elongated vertically extending fins I3 are arranged in crossed relationand depend from the flat top portion II. These fins I3 taper t0- wardtheir lower ends and are provided with cutout portions I4 directly underthe central vent opening I2 and under the center of the flat top portionI I near their inner edges, These cutout portions I4 provide an openingat the center of the canopy to permit air to equalize under the canopyof the chute. The ns I3 are formed of fabric and connect at their loweredge with cords I5.

The ns I3 are preferably about twelve feet long and extend below thebottom of the canopy 9, as shown in Figure l. The fins I3 may bestitched or otherwise secured to the under face of theat top portion II.The cords I5 are secured at their lower ends to the harness IS. The attop portion II will give the chute additional lifting power to olf-setthe weight of the additional material which is used in construction.

Suitable rings I9 are carried by the harness I5 and the lower ends ofthe cords I5 and shroud cords I1 are connected to the conventionalharness I and rings I9 as shown. The operator of the chute may easilyreach up and grip the cords I5 to facilitate steering and to control hislanding to a great degree. Due to the fact that the ns I3 are arrangedin crossed relation, the chute will not drift or oscillate but will dropin an approximately vertical line.

By providing the fins which are arranged in crossed relation, Ieliminate the possibility of entanglement of the cords. By providingfour ns extending in crossed relation this structure will eliminateoscillation of the chute and render the chute very maneuverable and actas a baille. Furthermore, the chute when opened will descend downwardlyin a substantially straight direction. The at top which is provided willadd greatly to the lifting power of the chute and will add more powerthan would be provided otherwise, and will compensate for the extraamount of material as stated above which may be required to produce thechute. Furthermore, the arrangement of the fins will prevent the chutefrom turning over or spilling air. It should be noted that the ns areconnected under the center of the chute, or the center ring thereof,directly under the flat top and the skirt I0 of the chute when the chuteis opened will depend from the edge of the flat top, as shown. Becauseof the fact that the ns I3 are secured to the under face of the hat topportion II, the flat top portion will be held in a flat position and thebulging thereof will be resisted, the weight of the operator of thechute pulling in a downward direction upon the shroud cords, and thelower ends of the fins.

The chute may be folded by folding the fins in the direction of thearrows shown in Figure 2, and the portions of the canopy may be foldedbetween these ns or the upper ends of the l'lns. I preferably providethree reinforcing cords I5 for each n. The at top portion is preferablyapproximately l5 feet in diameter, and the skirt I0 is preferably threeand one-half or four feet wide, cut in the conventional manner toprovide a proper tapering form for the canopy.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the constructionmay be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, solong as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy havingdownwardly turned edges, said canopy having a centrally located ventopening, vertical ns depending from and secured to the canopy beyond thevent opening and arranged in cross relation relative to the ventopening,said flns having cut-out portions directly below the vent opening todirect air from between the ns and out through the vent opening at apoint close to the under face of the canopy, thereby providing an airequalizer under the center of the canopy, said yh's being connectedtogether directly below'the 'cut-out portions in spacedrelation to thevent opening, and harness-engaging means suspended from the canopy andfins.

2. A parachute of the class described comprising a canopy havingdownwardly turned edges, said canopy having a centrally located ventopening, vertical fins depending Vfrom and secured to the canopy beyondthe vent opening and arranged in cross relation relative to the ventopening, said ns having out-out portions directly below thev ventopening to direct air from between the iins and out through the ventopening at a point close to the under face of the canopy, therebyproviding an air equalizer under the center of the canopy, saidhns-being connected together directly below the cut-out portions inspaced relation to the vent opening, harness-engaging means suspendedfrom the canopy and fins, a

harness engaging theAharness-engaging means, and said ns terminatingshort ofthe harness. `PETER J. SWOFFORD.

